WHO "This Is Not the Last Pandemic... We Must Respond Better"

From the 8th, Convening Review Committee for Revision and Supplementation of International Health Regulations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it will convene a review committee to examine and supplement the International Health Regulations (IHR) in preparation for future pandemics alongside the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, stated at a press briefing held at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 7th (local time), "COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic, and the world must be better prepared when the next pandemic occurs." He added, "We will begin meetings of the 'IHR Review Committee' from the 8th to assess whether the functions of the IHR were adequate during the pandemic and whether revisions are necessary."

The WHO will hold the IHR Review Committee for two days from the 8th to the 9th, with a total of 23 members participating worldwide, according to the resolution passed at the World Health Assembly (WHA) held last May. Director-General Ghebreyesus pointed out, "While many countries have made tremendous progress in healthcare in recent years, a significant number of countries have neglected the public health systems that form the foundation for epidemic response." He emphasized, "Public health is the foundation for social, economic, and political stability," adding, "This means investing in disease prevention, detection, and response services."

Maria Panker Khover, WHO Chief Scientist, who attended the briefing, explained reports of some COVID-19 reinfection cases. She said, "Research on how long immune responses to COVID-19 last is ongoing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.